Statizoid

Mean body mass index (BMI) in women by country

Body mass index (BMI) is measured as a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by her height (in meters), squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to <25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to <30 as 'overweight'; and >30.0 as 'obese'.

Countries reporting
190
Highest
34.1
Samoa
Lowest
21.1
Madagascar
Median
26.2
Years covered
42
1975–2016
Data points
7,980

What the numbers show

Mean body mass index (BMI) in women is currently reported for 190 countries. The highest value is 34.1 in Samoa; the lowest is 21.1 in Madagascar.

The median across all reporting countries is 26.2, and the mean is 26.24.

The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 2.

Over the past decade 172 countries rose and 13 fell. The largest increase was in Bangladesh (up 6.8%), and the largest decrease in Bahrain (down 2.7%).

Mean body mass index (BMI) in women: full country ranking

#Country LatestYear 10-year changeTrend
1 Samoa 34.1 2016 up 4.0% rising
2 Tonga 33.7 2016 up 2.1% rising
3 Niue 33.3 2016 up 2.5% rising
4 Cook Islands 33.1 2016 up 1.8% rising
5 Naoero 32.7 2016 down 2.4% flat
6 Tuvalu 31.6 2016 up 2.3% rising
7 Egypt 31.4 2016 up 5.4% rising
7 Micronesia, Federated States of 31.4 2016 up 2.6% rising
9 Kiribati 31.1 2016 up 3.7% rising
10 Saint Kitts and Nevis 30.7 2016 up 4.8% rising
11 Belize 30.5 2016 up 3.7% rising
12 Kuwait 30.4 2016 up 1.3% rising
12 Saint Lucia 30.4 2016 up 6.3% rising
12 Marshall Islands 30.4 2016 up 1.0% rising
15 Qatar 30.1 2016 up 3.1% rising
16 Jordan 29.8 2016 up 1.7% rising
17 Iraq 29.7 2016 up 4.2% rising
18 Jamaica 29.6 2016 up 5.7% rising
18 Palau 29.6 2016 unchanged rising
20 United Arab Emirates 29.4 2016 up 2.1% rising
21 South Africa 29.3 2016 up 2.8% rising
22 Barbados 29.2 2016 up 2.8% rising
22 Libya 29.2 2016 up 2.5% rising
22 Saudi Arabia 29.2 2016 up 1.4% rising
22 Syria 29.2 2016 up 3.2% rising
26 Dominica 29 2016 up 3.6% rising
27 Eswatini 28.9 2016 up 3.2% rising
27 United States of America 28.9 2016 up 2.8% rising
29 Bahamas 28.8 2016 up 2.9% rising
29 Fiji 28.8 2016 up 2.9% rising
29 Grenada 28.8 2016 up 4.7% rising
32 Trinidad and Tobago 28.6 2016 up 4.4% rising
32 Türkiye 28.6 2016 up 2.1% rising
34 Mexico 28.4 2016 up 2.9% rising
35 El Salvador 28.3 2016 up 4.0% rising
36 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 28.2 2016 up 4.4% rising
37 Chile 28.1 2016 up 2.6% rising
38 New Zealand 28 2016 up 2.9% rising
39 Azerbaijan 27.9 2016 up 4.1% rising
39 Costa Rica 27.9 2016 up 4.1% rising
39 Ecuador 27.9 2016 up 4.9% rising
39 Nicaragua 27.9 2016 up 3.7% rising
39 Seychelles 27.9 2016 up 3.0% rising
44 Antigua and Barbuda 27.7 2016 up 4.1% rising
44 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 27.7 2016 up 4.5% rising
44 Guyana 27.7 2016 up 4.9% rising
44 Panama 27.7 2016 up 3.4% rising
44 Suriname 27.7 2016 up 3.0% rising
49 Argentina 27.6 2016 up 4.2% rising
49 Georgia 27.6 2016 up 4.5% rising
49 Honduras 27.6 2016 up 5.7% rising
52 Dominican Republic 27.4 2016 up 4.2% rising
52 Lebanon 27.4 2016 up 2.6% rising
52 Uzbekistan 27.4 2016 up 6.2% rising
55 Guatemala 27.3 2016 up 3.8% rising
55 Republic of Moldova 27.3 2016 up 1.9% rising
55 Uruguay 27.3 2016 up 3.0% rising
58 Brunei Darussalam 27.2 2016 up 4.2% rising
58 Kyrgyzstan 27.2 2016 up 5.8% rising
60 Peru 27.1 2016 up 3.8% rising
60 Tunisia 27.1 2016 up 1.9% rising
62 Armenia 27 2016 up 1.1% rising
62 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 27 2016 up 1.5% rising
62 Ireland 27 2016 up 2.3% rising
62 Iran, Islamic Republic of 27 2016 up 2.3% rising
62 Lesotho 27 2016 up 2.3% rising
67 Israel 26.9 2016 up 1.1% rising
67 Paraguay 26.9 2016 up 4.7% rising
67 Solomon Islands 26.9 2016 up 3.1% rising
70 Brazil 26.8 2016 up 4.7% rising
70 Croatia 26.8 2016 up 4.7% rising
70 Romania 26.8 2016 up 4.7% rising
70 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 26.8 2016 up 1.1% rising
70 Vanuatu 26.8 2016 up 2.3% rising
75 Australia 26.7 2016 up 1.5% rising
75 Greece 26.7 2016 unchanged flat
77 Belarus 26.6 2016 up 1.1% rising
77 Canada 26.6 2016 up 1.5% rising
77 Colombia 26.6 2016 up 2.7% rising
77 Mongolia 26.6 2016 up 4.7% rising
77 Mauritania 26.6 2016 up 3.1% rising
77 Turkmenistan 26.6 2016 up 5.1% rising
83 Gabon 26.5 2016 up 4.7% rising
83 Morocco 26.5 2016 up 3.1% rising
83 Slovenia 26.5 2016 up 2.7% rising
86 Algeria 26.4 2016 up 2.7% rising
86 Hungary 26.4 2016 up 2.3% rising
86 Kazakhstan 26.4 2016 up 1.1% rising
86 Russian Federation 26.4 2016 down 0.4% flat
90 Albania 26.3 2016 up 3.1% rising
90 Maldives 26.3 2016 up 6.0% rising
90 Malta 26.3 2016 down 1.5% flat
90 Oman 26.3 2016 up 1.2% rising
90 Tajikistan 26.3 2016 up 6.5% rising
95 Czechia 26.2 2016 up 0.8% flat
95 Latvia 26.2 2016 up 1.6% rising
95 North Macedonia 26.2 2016 up 2.3% rising
95 Ukraine 26.2 2016 up 1.2% rising
99 Andorra 26.1 2016 down 1.1% flat
99 Botswana 26.1 2016 up 1.6% rising
99 Montenegro 26.1 2016 up 2.4% rising
99 Malaysia 26.1 2016 up 4.8% rising
99 Norway 26.1 2016 up 2.0% rising
104 Cuba 26 2016 up 2.0% rising
104 Cyprus 26 2016 unchanged rising
104 Papua New Guinea 26 2016 up 4.4% rising
107 Estonia 25.9 2016 up 1.2% rising
107 Equatorial Guinea 25.9 2016 up 4.9% rising
107 Mauritius 25.9 2016 up 2.4% rising
107 Poland 25.9 2016 up 2.0% flat
111 Germany 25.8 2016 up 1.2% rising
111 Lithuania 25.8 2016 down 0.4% flat
113 Bulgaria 25.7 2016 up 2.0% rising
114 Belgium 25.6 2016 up 1.2% flat
114 Comoros 25.6 2016 up 6.2% rising
114 Luxembourg 25.6 2016 up 1.2% rising
114 Sao Tome and Principe 25.6 2016 up 3.2% rising
118 Finland 25.5 2016 up 0.4% rising
118 Iceland 25.5 2016 up 1.2% rising
118 Serbia 25.5 2016 up 1.6% flat
118 Slovakia 25.5 2016 up 2.0% flat
122 Sweden 25.4 2016 up 2.0% rising
123 Cape Verde 25.3 2016 up 3.3% rising
123 Namibia 25.3 2016 up 2.8% rising
123 Zimbabwe 25.3 2016 up 1.6% rising
126 Ghana 25.2 2016 up 4.6% rising
127 Bosnia and Herzegovina 25.1 2016 up 2.0% rising
127 Cameroon 25.1 2016 up 3.7% rising
127 Liberia 25.1 2016 up 5.0% rising
127 Netherlands 25.1 2016 unchanged rising
127 Portugal 25.1 2016 down 1.2% flat
132 Thailand 25 2016 up 4.2% rising
133 Bahrain 24.8 2016 down 2.7% falling
133 Spain 24.8 2016 down 2.7% flat
135 Italy 24.7 2016 down 0.8% flat
136 Austria 24.6 2016 up 0.8% flat
136 Djibouti 24.6 2016 up 1.2% rising
136 Pakistan 24.6 2016 up 4.2% rising
139 Benin 24.5 2016 up 5.2% rising
139 Bhutan 24.5 2016 up 5.2% rising
139 Gambia 24.5 2016 up 4.3% rising
139 Kenya 24.5 2016 up 5.2% rising
139 Togo 24.5 2016 up 5.2% rising
144 Denmark 24.4 2016 unchanged flat
145 Angola 24.3 2016 up 5.2% rising
146 Côte d'Ivoire 24.2 2016 up 3.0% rising
146 France 24.2 2016 down 0.8% flat
146 Haiti 24.2 2016 up 4.8% rising
149 Afghanistan 24.1 2016 up 5.2% rising
149 Congo 24.1 2016 up 3.4% rising
149 Tanzania, United Republic of 24.1 2016 up 4.8% rising
149 Yemen 24.1 2016 up 4.8% rising
153 Guinea-Bissau 24 2016 up 3.4% rising
153 North Korea 24 2016 up 3.0% rising
153 Senegal 24 2016 up 2.1% rising
156 Nigeria 23.9 2016 up 2.6% rising
156 Somalia 23.9 2016 up 3.5% rising
158 Indonesia 23.8 2016 up 4.8% rising
159 Central African Republic 23.7 2016 up 4.9% rising
159 Switzerland 23.7 2016 down 0.8% flat
159 Sri Lanka 23.7 2016 up 5.3% rising
159 Zambia 23.7 2016 up 3.0% rising
163 China 23.5 2016 up 3.1% rising
163 Philippines 23.5 2016 up 3.1% rising
163 Sierra Leone 23.5 2016 up 1.7% rising
166 Guinea 23.4 2016 up 3.5% rising
166 Mozambique 23.4 2016 up 4.0% rising
168 Uganda 23.3 2016 up 4.0% rising
169 Malawi 23.2 2016 up 3.1% rising
170 Republic of Korea 23.1 2016 up 0.4% rising
170 Lao People's Democratic Republic 23.1 2016 up 5.5% rising
170 Mali 23.1 2016 up 4.1% rising
173 Myanmar 23 2016 up 3.6% rising
173 Singapore 23 2016 down 0.9% flat
175 Rwanda 22.8 2016 up 4.1% rising
176 Democratic Republic of Congo 22.6 2016 up 4.1% rising
177 Nepal 22.5 2016 up 6.6% rising
178 Cambodia 22.3 2016 up 5.2% rising
178 Niger 22.3 2016 up 3.2% rising
180 Burkina Faso 22.1 2016 up 3.3% rising
181 Bangladesh 22 2016 up 6.8% rising
182 India 21.9 2016 up 3.3% rising
182 Chad 21.9 2016 up 2.8% rising
182 Viet Nam 21.9 2016 up 6.3% rising
185 Japan 21.8 2016 down 0.5% flat
186 Burundi 21.6 2016 up 3.3% rising
187 Timor-Leste 21.3 2016 up 4.9% rising
188 Eritrea 21.1 2016 up 2.9% rising
188 Ethiopia 21.1 2016 up 3.4% rising
188 Madagascar 21.1 2016 up 1.9% rising

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Mean body mass index (BMI) in women by country. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/mean-body-mass-index-bmi-in-adult-women/

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About this data

Indicator
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women
Source
World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
190 places, 7,980 data points, 1975–2016
Last refreshed

Body mass index (BMI) is measured as a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by her height (in meters), squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to <25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to <30 as 'overweight'; and >30.0 as 'obese'.